Case Study 1: Understanding Process Measurement Variation

Due Week 4 and worth 180 points

For this assignment, you will need to conduct an experiment then create visuals that will be placed within a PowerPoint presentation to present your findings. Your presentation should be easy to read and have a consistent design theme throughout. Please view the first four chapters in the following Lynda.com course on PowerPoint Essentials before creating your presentation. 

PowerPoint2019 Essentials Training

Read the following experimental variation scenario:

To help you learn about measurement variation, try this experiential learning exercise. (We are indebted to Alan Goodman, DuPont Company, Wilmington, Delaware, for bringing this exercise to our attention.)

You have started a new business providing height measurements of humans. Your customers expect accurate and precise measurements. You offer two methods of measurement: (1) a yardstick or a meter stick, and (2) a tape measure. You need to test the two methods to evaluate their performance and provide the results to your customers.

For this experiment you will need the following tools: 

• A yardstick or meter stick
• A tape measurer
• Access to an entrance door that is 6 feet or taller
• A group of 20 or more people (they do not have to be gathered at the same time, but it should be 20 different people that participate).

You will test Method 1 in this way: Identify a group of 20 or more people. You will ask the group of 20 or more people to measure the height of the entrance door that is approximately 6 feet or taller. Be sure that the entrance door is the same for each member of the group. Each person will measure the height of the door using the yardstick or the meterstick and will silently report the measurement to you or to someone you have designated as the data collector. You will then tabulate the data and plot each measurement on a run or sequence chart. No deviation from the prescribed method is allowed.

In method 2, you may use the same, or a different, group of 20 or more people and the same or a different entrance door. This time, the group will use the tape measure in any way the group members desire. Again, each person silently reports the measurement of the entrance door to you or a designated data collector, and you will tabulate and plot each data point.

You will then create a PowerPoint presentation that includes each of the following items:

1. Compare the accuracy and precision of the two methods using graphical and analytical methods. Which method was more accurate? Develop a flow chart for each method in which you specify the key problems that might be present. Develop the supplier, input, process steps, output, and customer (SIPOC) model to analyze the process of both methods. This can also be done in the flow chart. (Please reference these instructions on how to create a flow chart in Microsoft Word.)
2. Analyze the flow chart and SIPOC model to identify opportunity for improvement (OFI). Next, categorize whether the OFI are caused by special causes or common causes variations. Provide a rationale for your response. Which method of measurement would you recommend? Why? Should different methods be used under different circumstances? Consider the role of different customer segments.
3. Discuss the feelings the group(s) had when using the two methods. What were the differences between the two sets of feelings? Are these differences important?
4. Use research.strayer.edu to identify at least two (2) quality references to support your discussion.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• A PPT presentation with at least 8 slides that include the responses to numbers 1 through 3 above.
• A references slide which follows APA format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Formatting of the slides should be consistent and easy to read.
• Cover slide containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date.

Note: The cover and the reference slides are not included in the required assignment slides length.

The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:

• Design strategies to enhance organizational performance that are informed by the principals of statistical thinking.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric:

Points: 180

Case Study 1: Understanding Process Measurement Variation

Criteria

Unacceptable

Below 70% F

Fair

70-79% C

Proficient

80-89% B

Exemplary

90-100% A

1. Compare the accuracy and precision of the two methods using graphical and analytical methods. Develop a flow chart for each method in which you specify the key problems that might be present. Develop the supplier, input, process steps, output, and customer (SIPOC) model to analyze the process of both methods.

Weight: 20%

Did not develop or incompletely developed the flow chart for each method in which you specify the key problems that might be present. Did not develop or incompletely developed the supplier, input, process steps, output, and customer (SIPOC) model to analyze the process of both methods.

Partially developed the flow chart for each method in which you specify the key problems that might be present. Partially developed the supplier, input, process steps, output, and customer (SIPOC) model to analyze the process of both methods.

Satisfactorily developed the flow chart for each method in which you specify the key problems that might be present. Satisfactorily developed the supplier, input, process steps, output, and customer (SIPOC) model to analyze the process of both methods.

Thoroughly developed the flow chart for each method in which you specify the key problems that might be present. Thoroughly developed the supplier, input, process steps, output, and customer (SIPOC) model to analyze the process of both methods.

2. Analyze the flow chart and SIPOC model to identify opportunity for improvement (OFI). Next, categorize whether the OFI are caused by special causes or common causes variations. Provide a rationale for your response.

Weight: 20%

Did not submit or incompletely analyze the flow chart and SIPOC model to identify opportunity for improvement (OFI). Did not submit or incompletely categorize whether the OFI are caused by special causes or common causes variations. Did not submit or incompletely provided a rationale for your response.

Partially analyzed the flow chart and SIPOC model to identify opportunity for improvement (OFI). Partially categorized whether the OFI are caused by special causes or common causes variations. Partially provided a rationale for your response.

Satisfactorily analyzed the flow chart and SIPOC model to identify opportunity for improvement (OFI). Satisfactorily categorized whether the OFI are caused by special causes or common causes variations. Satisfactorily provided a rationale for your response.

Thoroughly analyzed the flow chart and SIPOC model to identify opportunity for improvement (OFI). Thoroughly categorized whether the OFI are caused by special causes or common causes variations. Thoroughly provided a rationale for your response.

3. Discuss the feelings of the two groups about the two methods. Discuss the differences between the two sets of feelings. Are these differences important? Provide a rationale for your response.

Weight: 20%

Did not discuss or incompletely discussed the feelings of the two groups about the two methods.  Did not discuss or incompletely discussed the differences between the two sets of feelings. Did not provide an answer or incompletely provided an answer to the question: Are these differences important? Did not provide or incompletely provided a rationale for your response.

Partially discussed the feelings of the two groups about the two methods.  Partially discussed the differences between the two sets of feelings. Partially provided an answer to the question: Are these differences important? Partially provided a rationale for your response.

Satisfactorily discussed the feelings of the two groups about the two methods.  Satisfactorily discussed the differences between the two sets of feelings. Satisfactorily provided an answer to the question: Are these differences important? Satisfactorily provided a rationale for your response

Thoroughly discussed the feelings of the two groups about the two methods.  Thoroughly discussed the differences between the two sets of feelings. Thoroughly provided an answer to the question: Are these differences important? Thoroughly provided a rationale for your response

4. Select the method that was the most accurate. Provide a rationale for your response.

Weight: 20%

Did not select or incompletely selected the method that was the most accurate.  Did not provide or incompletely provided a rationale for your response.

Partially selected the method that was the most accurate.  Partially provided a rationale for your response.

Satisfactorily selected the method that was the most accurate.  Satisfactorily provided a rationale for your response.

Thoroughly selected the method that was the most accurate.  Thoroughly provided a rationale for your response.

5. Integration of two (2) references

Weight: 5%

No references provided and Sources are rarely integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, or lack in-text citations.

Does not meet the required number of references; some or all references poor quality choices and/or sources are partially integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, along with in-text citations.

References are mostly relevant sources of fair quality and are mostly integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, along with in-text citations.

References are highly relevant, high quality sources and are consistently integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, along with in-text citations.

6. Presentation Requirements

Weight: 5%

Presentation does not have 8 slides in addition to a cover slide and a reference slide. There is no consistent theme or design and slides are difficult to read.

Presentation does not have 8 slides in addition to a cover slide and a reference slide and/or there is no consistent theme or design in the presentation. Some slides may be difficult to read.

Presentation includes at least 8 slides in addition to a cover slide and a reference slide. There is a theme or design throughout the presentation, but some slides may contain too much information to be easily read.

Presentation includes 8 or more slides in addition to a cover slide and a reference slide. There is a consistent theme or design throughout, and all slides are easy to read.

7. Writing / Support for Ideas

Weight: 5%

Rarely uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.

Partially uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.

Mostly uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.

Consistently uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.

8. Writing / Grammar and Mechanics

Weight: 5%

Numerous errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Partially free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Mostly free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.